Qualifying in pole Smith enjoyed a lights-to-flag run in race 1 with championship leader Steve Burgess able to fight past his closest rival Jack Lang off the line for second position, Lang finishing third after recovering past Brian Caudwell, fourth on the road. He in turn was kept honest all the way to the chequered by Brian Murphy and Joe Stables, with the lead Team Challenge competitor Aaron Bailey just pipping Paul Allen to seventh overall. The second race also saw Smith unchallenged although Burgess remained in close contention throughout the 20-minute sprint to cross the line just 2.7s adrift. Lang’s early demise was good news for Murphy, in podium contention until the final lap when Stables was able to catch and pass him for third. Ex-Sr1 racer Mark Richards scored a fine fifth position, under intense pressure from Jason Kenny, Team GB’s most successful Rio Olympian on his return to Radical competition rounding out the top six ahead of Team Challenge victor Jason Redding.
The final race of the weekend was a longer 50-minute enduro, with the event split over two days this also featured its own qualifying session on Sunday morning. Although Tom Gladdis set the fastest time, track limit penalties saw Smith again in pole position alongside Burgess with Lang and Jack Manchester completing the second row. An uncharacteristic spin by Burgess on the opening lap saw the Nottinghamshire race drop to the tail of the field, and his recovery back through the field was delayed by a safety car on lap 4. However, with the order shaken considerably with the mid-race pitstops and Success Seconds playing out, Burgess could later recover to fourth overall, Smith again sweeping to victory over Jack Manchester – his best result of the season so far in second – and Stables third. Peter Tyler/Tom Gladdis scooped the Team Challenge win and fifth overall with Jason Rishover completing the top six.
The penultimate event of the Challenge season takes place next weekend at Silverstone – keep up with the action via Radical’s Twitter feed @RadicalUK